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A look back on the weekend of 13-14 May 2023

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.

News

Posted on 17 May 2023

The weekend of 13-14 May at the Centre was rich in events, thanks to our partners and visitors: here is a look back.

The ‘Spring of the Cemeteries’

This year 2023 saw the organisation of the 8th edition of the ‘Printemps des Cimetières’ (Spring of the Cemeteries), a national event organised by the Patrimoine Aurhalpin. The Printemps des Cimetières, highlights the funerary heritage in France, allowing a wide range of subjects to be addressed, such as ecology, know-how, funerary architecture, symbolism, and in the case of the military cemeteries, history. In partnership with Commonwealth War Graves Commission, we welcomed a number of visitors to the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery who came to discover or rediscover this large cemetery comprising more than 2,000 graves.

The visit of the cemetery continued at the foot of the Australian National Memorial.
The visit of the cemetery continued at the foot of the Australian National Memorial.
The exhibition displays the different sites on the Australian Remembrance Trail in the form of panels.

The exhibition ‘The Australians on the Western Front’

The exhibition ‘The Australians on the Western Front’, recently displayed at the Amiens Tourism Office, was on display this weekend in the Sir John Monash Centre. Visitors were able to learn more about the other sites along the Australian Remembrance Trail and the history of Australian soldiers who fought on the Western Front from Picardy to Belgium.

The European Night of Museums

Like every year, the European Night of Museums attracts curious and history-loving visitors into the evening to take in more of the participating sites. On Saturday 13 May, the Sir John Monash Centre stayed open until 8pm to welcome visitors who were able to enjoy a few extra hours to immerse themselves in the site and the history of Australia on the Western Front. The evening was also highlighted by a performance by the Gleannancre Pipe Band in the Centre’s courtyard.

The public gathered in the evening to listen to the bagpipes of the Gleannancre Pipe Band.
Valérie Vasseur, director of the Vignacourt 14-18 interpretative centre, told the story of the thousands of glass plates photographs discovered in the Thuilliers' barn.

Conference of the Vignacourt 14-18 Centre

On Sunday 14 May, the Sir John Monash Centre welcomed the team from the Vignacourt 14-18 Interpretative Centre for a presentation. The Centre, a partner on the Australian Remembrance Trail, highlights the incredible collection of photographs taken by Louis and Antoinette Thuillier, with over four thousand glass plate photographs that immortalised soldiers from all over the world during their leave in the villages behind the front line. Forgotten for almost a century, the photos were found in 2011 and the Interpretation Centre is committed to sharing them with as many people as possible.

This talk also addressed the story of the incredible discovery of the identity of Australian soldier James Dillon, which you can (re)discover here.

Every year, the Sir John Monash Centre hosts several events. Follow us on our social networks to keep up to date with the upcoming events.

 

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